Angelo Beolco(1502-1542) - Attributed as the Italian Shakespeare, Beolco was an actor, playwright, philosopher, and poet.
Flaminio Scala(1547-1624) - Known for playing the role of Flavio; Scala was also a renowned scenario writer, playwright, director, producer, manager, agent, and editor. He even lead his very own Commedia Dell'Arte troupe.
Isabella Andreini(1562-1604) - An Italian actress and writer, she was a member of Scala's Company as well as several academic academies. A distinguished Latin scholar, she was honored by Tasso, Italian princes, and French princes.
Francesco Andreini(1547-1624) - Husband to Isabella Andreini, Francesco was known for playing the Capitano della Val Inferno. A member of the Spensierati of Florence, he was a poet and writer well versed in Italian, French, Greek, Slav, and Turkish. In addition to these talents, he created the roles of the Sicilian Doctor and Falcirone the Magician. He was also an accomplished musician capable of playing nearly any instrument.
Giovanni Battista Andreini(1576-1654) - Son of Francesco and Isabella Andreini, Giovanni was also a renowned member of the commedia community. An admirable actor, he authored 18 rather obscene plays as well as a work called El Teatro Celeste. He was also known for writing a collection of twenty-three sonnets about actors who had won Martyr's Palm.
Tut'Zanni Theatre Company - Tut'Zanni Theatre Company
The Gelosi(1600-1604) - The Gelosi was a renowned and talented Commedia Dell'Arte. They were brought into the service of King Henri IV, and played for him at the Hotel de Bourgogne until the spring of 1604.
The Uniti(1614) - The Uniti played for two months in Genoa, Italy. Something unique about this troupe is that the role of Franceschina was played by a man named Ottavio Bernardini.
The Confidenti(7th Century) - The Confidenti played at Lucca, Italy in 1616 and Venice, Italy in 1618. The troupe was lead by Commedia Dell'Arte legend Falminio Scala; and the troupe was even recommended to the Duke of Mantua by Giovanni de' Medici.
Faction of Fools(21st Century) - Faction of Fools is a modern day theatre company dedicated to promoting and preserving the Commedia Dell'Arte style of theatre. They are based in Washington, DC but also have connections internationally.
Tut'Zanni Theatre Company(21st Century) - The Tut'Zanni Theatre Company is a modern day Commedia Dell'Arte troupe based in New York City. They use the Commedia Dell'Arte style to interact and engage with their audience while simultaneously addressing social issues. This makes them somewhat divergent from the traditional troupes. Their performances can be seen internationally.
Work Cite:
Duchartre. Pierre. The Italian Comedy. Dover Publications, INC. 1966.
Angelo Beolco (1502-1542) - Attributed as the Italian Shakespeare, Beolco was an actor, playwright, philosopher, and poet.
Flaminio Scala (1547-1624) - Known for playing the role of Flavio; Scala was also a renowned scenario writer, playwright, director, producer, manager, agent, and editor. He even lead his very own Commedia Dell'Arte troupe.
Isabella Andreini (1562-1604) - An Italian actress and writer, she was a member of Scala's Company as well as several academic academies. A distinguished Latin scholar, she was honored by Tasso, Italian princes, and French princes.
Francesco Andreini (1547-1624) - Husband to Isabella Andreini, Francesco was known for playing the Capitano della Val Inferno. A member of the Spensierati of Florence, he was a poet and writer well versed in Italian, French, Greek, Slav, and Turkish. In addition to these talents, he created the roles of the Sicilian Doctor and Falcirone the Magician. He was also an accomplished musician capable of playing nearly any instrument.
Giovanni Battista Andreini (1576-1654) - Son of Francesco and Isabella Andreini, Giovanni was also a renowned member of the commedia community. An admirable actor, he authored 18 rather obscene plays as well as a work called El Teatro Celeste. He was also known for writing a collection of twenty-three sonnets about actors who had won Martyr's Palm.
|Angelo Beolco | | Flaminio Scala | | Isabella Andreini | | Francesco Andreini | | Giovanni Battista Andreini |
Famous Commedia Dell'Arte Troupes:
The Gelosi (1600-1604) - The Gelosi was a renowned and talented Commedia Dell'Arte. They were brought into the service of King Henri IV, and played for him at the Hotel de Bourgogne until the spring of 1604.
The Uniti (1614) - The Uniti played for two months in Genoa, Italy. Something unique about this troupe is that the role of Franceschina was played by a man named Ottavio Bernardini.
The Confidenti (7th Century) - The Confidenti played at Lucca, Italy in 1616 and Venice, Italy in 1618. The troupe was lead by Commedia Dell'Arte legend Falminio Scala; and the troupe was even recommended to the Duke of Mantua by Giovanni de' Medici.
Faction of Fools (21st Century) - Faction of Fools is a modern day theatre company dedicated to promoting and preserving the Commedia Dell'Arte style of theatre. They are based in Washington, DC but also have connections internationally.
Tut'Zanni Theatre Company (21st Century) - The Tut'Zanni Theatre Company is a modern day Commedia Dell'Arte troupe based in New York City. They use the Commedia Dell'Arte style to interact and engage with their audience while simultaneously addressing social issues. This makes them somewhat divergent from the traditional troupes. Their performances can be seen internationally.
Work Cite: